Fluid coupling having equalized pressure drops in multiple fluid lines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10369792-B2
Application number	US-201815888876-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2018
Priority date	Feb 6, 2017
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead includes: a body having a first channel and a second channel, the second channel being relatively longer than the first channel; a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of the first channel; and a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of the second channel. The first and second channels are configured for proportionally modulating a flow resistance of fluids flowing therethrough.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead, the fluid coupling comprising:
a body having a first channel and a second channel fluidically isolated from the first channel, the second channel being relatively longer than the first channel;
a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of the first channel, the first inlet port and first outlet port projecting outwardly from the body; and
a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of the second channel, the second inlet port and second outlet port projecting outwardly from the body;
wherein:
the first and second channels are configured for proportionally modulating a flow resistance of fluids flowing therethrough.

2. The multi-channel fluid coupling of claim 1 , wherein the flow resistance of the fluids flowing through the first and second channels are equalized.

3. The fluid coupling of claim 1 , wherein the second channel comprises at least a portion having a larger cross-sectional area than the first channel.

4. The fluid coupling of claim 1 , wherein the second channel has a sloped wall.

5. The fluid coupling of claim 1 , wherein the first and second outlet ports extend transversely relative to the first and second inlets ports.

6. The fluid coupling of claim 5 , wherein the second channel has a roof sloped from the second outlet port towards the second inlet port.

7. The fluid coupling of claim 1 comprising a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels.

8. The fluid coupling of claim 7 , wherein the first inlet ports are relatively proximal the first outlet ports and the second inlet ports are relatively distal the second outlet ports.

9. The fluid coupling of claim 7 comprising two first channels and two second channels for four ink colors.

10. The fluid coupling of claim 9 , wherein the inlet ports or the outlet ports are arranged radially.

11. A printhead comprising:
a manifold having at least first and second ink supply channels; and
a fluid coupling according to claim 1 connected to at least one end of the manifold.

12. The printhead of claim 11 , wherein the fluid coupling is an inlet coupling for the printhead.

13. The printhead of claim 12 , wherein inlet ports of the inlet coupling extend perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of the printhead.

14. The printhead of claim 13 , wherein the inlet ports extend in an opposite direction to an ink ejection direction of the printhead.

15. The printhead of claim 11 , wherein the first and second ink supply channels extend longitudinally along the manifold.

16. A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead, the fluid coupling comprising:
a body having a first channel and a second channel fluidically isolated from the first channel, the second channel being relatively longer than the first channel;
a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of the first channel; and
a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of the second channel,
wherein:
the first and second outlet ports extend transversely relative to the first and second inlets ports; and
the second channel has a roof sloped from the second outlet port towards the second inlet port.

17. A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead, the fluid coupling comprising:
a body having a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels fluidically isolated from each other, the second channels being relatively longer than the first channel;
a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of each first channel; and
a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of each second channel,
wherein:
the inlet ports or the outlet ports are arranged radially; and
the first and second channels are configured for proportionally modulating a flow resistance of fluids flowing therethrough.

18. The fluid coupling of claim 17 , wherein the second channels comprise at least a portion having a larger cross-sectional area than the first channel.

19. The fluid coupling of claim 17 , wherein the second channels have a sloped wall.

20. The fluid coupling of claim 17 , wherein the first and second outlet ports extend transversely relative to the first and second inlets ports; and each second channel has a roof sloped from the outlet channel towards the inlet channel.

Assignees

• Memjet Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Berry Norman
• Thelander Jason
• Burke David
• Thomas Andrew

Classifications

• B41J2/19

  for removing air bubbles · CPC title

• B41J25/34

  Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages · CPC title

• B41J2202/20

  Modules · CPC title

• B41J2202/19

  Assembling head units · CPC title

• B41J2002/14491

  Electrical connection · CPC title